Four Seasons of Glamping

Many people think that you can only go glamping during the summer months, but there are 3 more seasons to the year! With glamping sites open all the year around, you can enjoy the great outdoors whenever you want.

Glamping is for all seasons

Everybody loves their summer holiday, and wants to make the most of the best weather possible, but summer is not the only season in which to take a vacation. Outdoor enthusiasts know that the spring and autumn months are excellent times of year for outdoor activities such as hiking and cycling, and photographers love exploring the countryside in winter for those unique, crispy shots.

Glamping sites around the world stay open throughout the year, and Aran Islands Camping and Glamping is no exception. Our thoughtfully designed glamping units are warm and cosy thanks to their heating systems, and we welcome visitors keen on staying on Inis Mor during the winter months.

Not sure if glamping at any other time of the year than summer is for you? Let’s take a look at each season, and see if we can persuade you!

Winter

Winter is not a season that most people associate with camping. Perhaps it is because of distant memories from their childhood of trying to stay warm in the cold and the rain in an inadequate tent. Glamping is of course completely different to camping!

There is no need to worry about being cold or uncomfortable at night, as the special ‘Cochlans’ or ‘Tigin’s’ on Inis Mor are snug, warm, and cosy. The heating system will ensure you are never cold, and you will be completely shielded from the elements once inside.

This then gives you the perfect base from which to explore the island during the winter months. With far fewer tourists, it’s also an ideal time to really experience island life as the locals do. You can visit the main attractions as normal, but make sure to spend some time in front of the fireplaces of a pub or two, listen to some live music, and get chatting with people. It will feel a world away from your regular life!

Spring

New life starts to appear during the spring. The days start getting longer, the temperatures gradually improve, and flowers start to appear. If you had made a New Year’s resolution to be more active, Spring is the season where you can quite literally spring into action!

In addition to being able to get some hiking done, Spring is also the start of the festival season on the island. You can check out our other blog post about festivals on the Aran Islands, and see if you can time your holiday to coincide with one! The St. Patrick’s Day Parade (although technically in winter) is certainly one not to miss, and takes place on March 17th. Some people have described this as the most Irish thing you will ever see. You will have to experience it for yourself, and let us know what you think!

Summer

Of course, summer is the most popular time to visit the Aran Islands. This is when the majority of the day-trippers come over to Inis Mor, and also when the greater numbers of tourists seeking accommodation arrive. Aran Camping and Glamping is in full swing at this time of year, and it is advisable to ensure that you book your glamping accommodation well in advance.

All of the island’s main attractions are open, and the long summer days provide plenty of time to see them all. Explore the ancient stone fortresses, discover the locations of the Puffing Holes, take a look at the Worm Hole, and cycle from one end of the island to the other. You’ll love your time on Inis Mor during the summer, and you are likely to get some decent beach time!

Autumn

Finally, we come to the autumn, a time when many families choose to take their last vacation together during the half-term period. Nature is at her finest in the autumn, with a changing of colours and misty landscapes.

Wandering around the island on a fine autumn day really makes you feel at one with nature, and being able to return to the comfortable lodging at the glamping site is a just reward for an active day. You might still be able to have the last meals of the year outside on Inis Mor in the autumn, and enjoy a glass of wine or two underneath the stars.

What to do on Inis Mor in all 4 seasons

The island is open for locals and visitors alike all the year through. The main highlights and things to do on the island include:

Visiting Dun Aengus (Dun Aonghasa)

A stone fort positioned on a cliff edge, and semi-circular in design. There are spectacular views of the fort itself, the coastline, and the Atlantic Ocean.

Dún Dúchathair (Black Fort)

Similar in design and style to Dun Aengus, but much less visited. It is a good place to visit on bicycle as part of a tour of the island.

The Worm Hole

A curious natural rectangle carved out of the rock below a cliff, which looks a little like a swimming pool. Red Bull holds a cliff-diving championship here. Don’t try it yourself though!

Aran Sweater Market

Where else in the world would you buy a quality Aran sweater from?!

The Puffing Holes

Ask the locals for direction to the Puffing Holes. Water is forced up by the pressure of waves from sea level, and spouts out in large plumes. It’s quite a sight to see, but don’t stand too close, or you might get caught by surprise!

The site situated in very comfortable place; just 5 minutes walk from village, the beach just over the wall, beautiful surround. It amazing that only for 10 euros you can use the kitchen in full: they have all dishes, cutlery, pans, etc. The field for tents is quite big and flat. The girl in reception explained about all attractions of Aran island. We are very pleased.

Rihana Lupton

21:06 13 Aug 19

Stayed here in July and it was absolutely fabulous. Would definitely recommend

Siobhan Nolan

21:09 05 Aug 19

Brilliant brilliant accommodation..setting and facilities are second to none..easy access to the small village for food..

Karl Mc eneaney

08:00 30 Jul 19

Great facility less than 5 mins bike from the harbour and a perfect base to see the island. Pod was spotless and info provided by the friendly receptionist appreciated.

sean bruscar

20:30 29 Jul 19

Very clean campsite. Bit noisy in a tent like all campsites. The pods look good.

Cormac Lehane

13:18 21 Jul 19

The grounds were lovely and well maintained, it wasn't too far from the shop/restaurants especially if you've hired a bike which I'd recommend on a nice day and everything was clean. There was a receptionist who was very rude over the weekend I was there which took away from the experience a bit.

James .H

11:30 14 Jul 19

Visited here last Summer. Very convenient spot. You had to pay to use the showers but I supposed that's fair enough when it's €10 per person per night to camp. The site and area is a little bit "dead" but it is a small island after all, well within walking distance though to the lively areas. Place could be a little more scenic but it is nice all the same. Overall - good value! I will be visiting again this Summer, in early August.

David K

08:20 18 Jun 19

TopThe scenery is incredible, just in front of the beach. The place is very close to the village (shop, pubs, bike hire) and to the pier. Perfect place for spending time with friends, family and children. Very friendly and helpful staff.

Very nice, clean etc. and cosy glamping huts. Also very friendly hostess. Would most definitely stay there again!

Alex R.

11:58 14 May 19

Very disappointed with the service. We reserved a cabin for a night but our ferry was canceled due to bad weather conditions. The reservation office refused to refund any of our money, even with more than 48 hours notice. Do not recommend.

Todd Bishop

09:48 19 Mar 19

Very scenic, good kitchen facilities. However, the water in the showers would be cold at unpredictable times of the day and there was nowhere to plug a hairdryer into.

Sinead Baker

04:22 19 Jan 19

Great place. Cosy little cabins. Highly recommended it. I'll be back.

Giuseppe Valente

15:16 16 Jan 19

Nice place to stay. Good location. Great staff. Facilities are modern and comfortable, laundry, showers, canteen is clean and has everything you need.

Val S

22:16 09 Jan 19

Great and memorable experience. Nice, small and cozy camps. Best for two people but can accommodate three. Nice and professional staff. We loved the kitchen facilities which makes up for the small size of camp. Great atmosphere. We hired bicycles and visited the whole island. Must visit place if you’re planning on staying overnight on the island. Highly recommended.

Muhammad Taqi

06:33 15 Nov 18

Camped here overnight when I cycled from Galway. Nice campsite, good facilities, you pay for the shower but it last ages. Good kitchen facilities and it's close to the Pubs. I set up the Tent and cycled around the sites on the island very handy.

Ray Toomey

20:30 10 Nov 18

Stayed here with my friend a few months ago. It was my highlight of the trip and I 100% recommend staying in one of the Clocháns

Anthony Marchi

17:21 02 Oct 18

Great location and generally a good site. Felt a little unwelcomed when we arrived. We got off the ferry around 11.30am and the first thing we wanted to do was offload the tent etc... Check in isn't until 1pm which is surprising as people coming off the ferry would want to dump their stuff first surely (which they did as everyone else was doing the same as us) just doesn't seem well designed. Anyway we were allowed to set up the tent (so long as we didn't use the facilities) then went off for the day and returned late in the evening. It is a very nice site and the price is very reasonable for camping. Not sure I would stay in a pod for the price though. You could get a b&b for cheaper!

Lindsay Grainger

09:38 19 Aug 18

Great facilities and lovely, helpful people. Would definitively recommend and stay here again. A great family friendly site. Not suitable for parties.

Clodagh Stapleton

19:04 05 Aug 18

€2 per shower, no handwash in the toilets. You have to wear wristbands for the duration of your stay which was very annoying. Also the campsite was very loud late into the night with some residents.

Stephen Crowley

12:49 29 Jul 18

The cheapest place to stay on the island. 10euro per person in tent. 2euro extra for the shower but it's so long working that two persons can use it in this time. The pods are looking very nice but I wouldn't pay this 125euro per night for this, overpriced Ireland as usual.

Katharina Ceta

10:36 23 Jul 18

Beautiful, quiet, across the street from a sandy beach. Huts are snug for 4 but we were outside a lot, so it never felt cramped. Laundry facilities and larger kitchen available in nearby outbuildings, wifi in main building. An excellent place to unplug and rest.

Jill Mulvey

07:58 14 Jul 18

Eco friendly and one of the best stay I have ever been. If u hire bicycle is only two minutes from town. Walking distance is about 10 minutes. Highly recommended. Place is nice and tidy

Eva Ruzickova

07:10 07 May 18

Nice place to stay, with front sea view and easy to commute to the city.

Brajesh Singh

07:01 04 May 18

Very satisfactory ! Thank you very much ! ?

Charlotte Tailland

13:57 02 Apr 18

The welcome was very good. I recommend this place.

Louise Camille Desroches

13:38 02 Apr 18

After a hard walking, my friends and i was very satisfising by the welcome the camping had offert to us! Thank you so much

fier d etre moi

13:34 02 Apr 18

Very satisfying, they welcome us when we were freezing outside, so thank youuuuuu

Lou acl

13:31 02 Apr 18

Absolutely loved it! Wish we could have stayed longer

Sarah Nash

00:03 21 Feb 18

From start to finish I'd an excellent three day stay here.The owner was a gentleman, he unexpectantly to us, was waiting at the port for the ferry to arrive to collect his guests and drive them to the glamping site.Being midweek early October it was quiet with only a few pods occupiedThe pods were first class, spotless, like a hotel room with everything you'd want.The location is perfect, a few minutes walk from the port and Kilronan village with a beach and amazing views out over the water.It was sad having to leave, really looking forward to returning.

Mike Foxtrot

20:43 01 Nov 17

great staff and lovely acommadations right beside sea.

liam gray

00:15 20 Oct 17

Good place to camp, 10 euros a night, 2 euros shower, nice kitchen

Javier Garside

10:36 25 Aug 17

A must-try experience on Inishmore. Amazing setting and fun design.

Matt Finn

02:58 08 Aug 17

Free entry to Dun Aonghasa fort offered with stay. Brand new and excellent facilities at time of writing, great location for Kilronan with beach on the doorstep. Only downside was expensive (€2) shower tokens and painfully scalding water from the showers (solar heated, very hot day)! Otherwise excellent.

Daniel Keeling

23:20 11 Jul 17

We stayed at Aran Camping Glamping over the weekend and found it a superb place for a break. The Units are tastefully designed and very clean. The water in the shower was hot, the kitchen room spacious, and it was close enough to the main village. Will definitely return!!

Ciara Duffy

13:40 27 Feb 17

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Aran Camping Glamping is conveniently located in the center of The Wild Atlantic Way. It is accessible from both Doolin (The Cliffs of Moher) and Rossaveal (Galway / Connemara).Sligo - Galway - Connemara - Doolin - Cork

The combination of fantastic Aran Islands self-catering Glamping and Camping accommodation, numerous outdoor activities and famous Irish hospitality makes Aran Camping & Glamping the perfect choice for a short break, corporate day out or simply a family holiday to remember on the Aran Islands.